Cow hopple



Patented Aue. 4, 1931 PATENT carica JOHN REICHERT, OF RACINE, Y'ISCONSIN cow HQPPLE Application led May 24, 1928. Serial No. 280,294.

This invention has forits primary object the'provision of a hopple for domestic quadrupeds, particularly cows, that will reduce to theminimum possibility of injury to the '5 legs of theanimal consequently that will be humane in use, simple, strong and durable in construction, easily operated, and powerful in action, and that will avoid t-he necessity of employing chain as the connecting 51o and holding element; and those skilled in the art will readily perceive the foregoing and other objects in the light of the following 'explanation of the accompanying drawings showing what I now believe to be the pre- "1`5 ferred mechanical expression or embodiment of the invention from among other forms, constructionsv and arrangements within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention consists in certain novel fea- 20V tures in constructionand/or in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth Yand speciied hereinafter.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

25 Fig. l shows in perspective an example of a hopple of my invention applied to a domestic quadruped, such as a cow.

Fig. 2 shows the hopple of Fig. 1 in perspective, dotted lines indicating in part the 1.30 hind legs of the animal, dotted lines also showing the form of the return bend or bight of the rope although in an abnormal position.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the near 35 leg hook of Figs. l and 2.

type at one end securely coupled to one the right hand or near) shackle and adapted to extend transversely therefrom in front of the hind legs to the other (the far side or left hand) shackle and from rthence back to' the near side or origin al shackle with its free end adapted for quick attachable and detachable securing to said near side shackle; the central intermediate portion of the rope being confined to said far side shackle to form' a bight or return bend having a longitudinally ruiming or slipping fit with said far side shackle to permit longitudinal drawing or slipping of the rope with respect to said shackle to attain a powerful block and' tackle leverage or action in drawing the two shackles and the hind legs toward each other f by pull on thev free end of the rope from the near side preparatory to fastening said free end of the rope to the near side shackle.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, each shackle is in the form of a hook composed of strong more or less wide band material, such as one length of band steel bent to the desired form. The hook is formed to fitv forwardly over the hind leg above the hock point with the comparatively short flat bill l, of the hook fitting the inner side of the leg and the comparatively long shank 2, of the hook fitting the outer side of the leg. The shank 2,'of the right or near hook, is formed, near its 'forward end, with a rope hole or perforation 3, through which the i double length strong rope 4, is threaded. This end of the rope is anchored and confined to said hook by a suitable stop head, such as permanent knot 4a, preventing the anchored end of the rope from pulling through the hole 3.

The intermediate portion of the iiat wide shank 2, is longitudinally slit and punched outwardly to form a longitudinally inclined and rearwardly projecting tongue 5, free at its rear end, and this tongue cooperates with the Outer side face of the shank 2, infforming a rearwardly openingr longitudinallytapeed locking and Wedging slot or socket for the free end of the rope. This particular hook, ot' the pair, is tei-ined the near or right hand hook because it is applied to the hind leo: adi aeent to the location of the operatonanlV i n usually Vhe other or ok is preferably torined with a shank ha fing a forward extension that extends forwardly at toe outer side of the tar or lett hand vhind leg to which said far khook is applied. This extension 2o, also preferably is offset laterally or inwardly. This shank Yextension Qu., is so 'formed that the Central portion of the rope et, is confined or loosely coupled thereto in suoli manner as to onnrthe rope with a return bend or bight Alb, sli'dable through the shank and over the shank surfaces engaged thereby, and hence permitting geul-i in through said extension 2c'. This i fui he attained by I*forming a pair of relatively large rtransverse holes Q-e,through the extension that are space-d apart-a Substantial distance longitudinally of the extension, and providing` the e2(- tension with a transverse outwardly otliset curved bulge or rounded corrugation 2d, between the holes `2o, to Jforni a rounded rope vhig'ht or return `bend forming outer sur-tac Qc, over which the rope transversely entends troni one hole oyto the other hole, with a sliding fit. The rope Vand shackles (hooks) are assembled fby threading the rope 2l, inwardly through rope/hole 3, in the shank of the `nea 'hook so that'the rope end stop,suchas large knot fla, wil'lahutthe outer side ofthe shank to preyeutathe rope end slipping` through the hole. The free vend ot the rope is -then threaded outwardly through the rope hole mosb reinote lfreni the i'ron't tree end of the shank'extension 2a, oi -theother or v'tar hook. The rope isfthen bent or doubled back and its free endthreaded inwardly through the outer or other rope hole 2o, toward the near hook. The tree end ofthe rope then ltornied 'with a stop, such as hard knot Llc, to v`prevent acci- 'dental nnifhreading-otthe rope through'holes 2c, and also to prevent the free end Iof the Yrope accidentally slipping past lthe looking; tongue 5, `when secured thereby.

The two vhooks are applied'to "the hind 'legs `of the animal, with the hook Shanks extended forwardly at the youter sides ofthe legs and `with the ropein "front of the legs nd extendtransversely thereof connecting the ot thtwo hooks, with the 4tree endet the rope hanging loosely from the extension oi the tar hook. The operator then from the 'near'hoolr sideot the animal, pulls longitudinally on the free end of the rope in a direction tor-:ard the near side, thereby exerting` a block and tackle action on the tufo hooks in drawthe anilnals hind legis toward each other, ne 'intermediate' portion oit the' rope slips Qld; on 1 far hook shank through theV rounded on thereof. lhen the rope has been oor tigfhfenefil to the desired degree, the free end or rope passed transversely across the iront edge or side of the near or right hind leg` and secured to the near hook by .Wedging e saine behind the 'looking tongue f5, and ereby securing the return ply of the rope fo the near hook. The rope can be quickly ul easily released, When the hopple is to be ein-eyed, by upward and rearward pull of '-'s Ytree end to release and free the saine from :e locking;` hook. the rope l, is smooth in so tar as aniinal injuring projections are con- -eer-ned, th heppie `is Iexcveedin,gly hum ne and avoids 'the cruel action 'of 'the 'chain "ths connnonlyemployed, as Well as-diiii [ltr encountered in handlingfchain lengths i seeurinl and `relea,si-ng hopples. 1I "also avoid 'the use oft'swinga'ble links'a-s tlreconnectino e'leinents between'the securing tiefand the hooks, as these linksare injurious to the :niimalls legs Well `as otherwise objectionaliile vin `fuieration land inse.

Either `ot 4the 2hooks of my hopple can lhe employed to secure the an'iinals ftail, by ygraspina` Ithe tail fhetWeen the lhook Ehill an d aniinals'leg.

Instead for" rproviding' the shank of the ffar lhook with tworope holes and an intermediate `rounded surface to provide 'the `'rope lb'igiht and thesliding contact of the'rope IWith the hook shan i :in attaining the block an'dta'ckle connection, said shank can be slotted to reeeiye a vpulley 8, mounted on -a suitable -axfis carried by years 9, 'torined by bending -the band'steelfof thehook shank at opposite'sides oi the slot, see Fie'. 5. The rope hend -'or biefht Willthus 'lit the ,pulley and the opposite plies or lengths of the rope -Will Apass to and frointhe pulley, lthrourgh'the slot in the hook shank. The action of the Iropewr'ill be eerwrthe saine Wherethe pulley 8, lis einployedias [15 inthe formation ot Fig. 1.

lVhat I elaiin is l. A hopple including; a near'legr hook; ,a far leg,f hook h ayinp; openings therein: and an elongated rope anclborediat anend Vto the near .hook and [extending .therefrom .to and returning from the `ifar hook, said `rope extending; through said openings in the far hook Iand thereby forming a return ybend in .said rope confined to lsaid 'far hook with .a running it, ywhereby longitudinal pull on the free return length of the lrope 'Wil-l 'dran' `the 'aniinals legs on which the lhoks Vare iitted toward eachother ywith a block and .tackle quick attachment and release of the return rope length free end.

E2. A hopple including a near leg hook; a far leg hook, each embodying a hook bill having a shank; a doubled return-length rope connecting the shanks of said hooks, the shank of said 'ar leg hook beingrextended rearwardly and having the openings for the outward and return passage of said rope there-through With a running engagement, said far hook shank having means to fit the return bend of said rope, one end of said rope being confined to the near hook shank; and means for attaching and detaching the return length of the rope.

3. A hopple including leg shackles, and a comiecting rope, the far leg shackle having a shank elongated rearwardly and deflected laterally and provided With openings, said rope anchored at one end to the near leg shackle and extending therefrom to said far leg shackle and passing outwardly and in- Wardly through said openings, thereby forming a return bend or bight.

4. A hopple including leg shackles, each having a shank; and a doubled return-bend rope directly connecting the shanks of said shackles, one end of said rope being anchored in one of said shanks, which shank is provided With a slot and a fixed free-end finger elevated over said slot and from the adjacent side surface of said shank and cooperating with said slot and surface to Wedge and lock the other end portion of said rope When said rope is forced inwardly under and longitudinally of said linger and to release said rope when pulled outwardly longitudinally of said finger; the shank of the other shackle provided with means forming a bight or return bend in said rope whereby the rope is coupled to said shank with a running fit.

5. A hopple including leg shackles having shanks; and a doubled return-bend rope the ends of which are adapted to be secured to the shank of one shackle, the rope passing through the shank of the other shackle with a ruiming lit and confined thereto at its bight or return-bend; one of said Shanks provided with means for securing and releasing the return length of said rope, the other end of said rope being anchored to said shank; the other shank being provided with means forming and litting the return bend in the rope, and providing for longitudinal running 'of the rope through said shank.

6. A hopple including leg shackles; and a doubled return-bend rope connecting said shackles, said rope being anchored at one end to one of said shackles, Which shackle is provided with means for securing the other end of said rope; the other shackle having spaced openings for the free outward and return passage of said rope and an intervening rounded portion to lit the return bend of said rope. 

